Online Conference System with Real-Time Document Transaction Platform

ABSTRACT

A computer-implemented online conferencing transactional platform system comprising an interaction module, a video-conferencing module, and a storage device may allow multiple participants in a video-conference to access, co-browse, collaboratively edit, and sign a transactional document. An interaction module fetches an image of a transactional document and a field identifier for an interactive transactional document element to be filled out from a remotely-connected secure signature API, and displays the image of the document, along with the interactive transactional document element on a webpage interface to a moderator and a signer end user in a video-conference. The interaction module receives a filled-out transactional document in an I-frame from the secure signature API, allowing the signer end user to sign the transactional document using a secure embedded signature process.

This application is a continuation of co-pending U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 15/717,711 filed Sep. 27, 2017, which is a continuation of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 14/830,592, entitled “Online ConferenceSystem with Real-Time Document Transaction Platform,” filed on Aug. 19,2015, now bearing U.S. Pat. No. 9,813,670, which claims priority to U.S.Provisional Patent Application No. 62/039,843, entitled “OnlineConference System with Real-Time Document Transaction Platform,” filedon Aug. 20, 2014, all of which are hereby expressly incorporated byreference in their entirety.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure generally relates to document co-browsingplatforms on computing systems. In another aspect, the presentdisclosure relates to online conferencing systems.

BACKGROUND

Many transactional meetings require face-to-face meetings to explaindocuments and to verify the authenticity of participants and theauthenticity of signatures. Some in-person meetings need interactionwith documents being discussed. Many individuals now prefer to meetonline via remote computer workstations rather than travel for in personmeetings. However, conventional online conferencing tools typically onlyallow one side of the conference, for example, the host, to edit or addmaterial to a document being displayed.

There is an increasing need for online conferencing to handle documentreview by remote parties. For example, many consumers are turning toonline services to enter into contracts. Some complex transactions mayrequire multiple steps and a detailed explanation from a representative.In some cases, the consumer may be required to initial or sign off onportions of documents acknowledging they understand the terms. Usually,signatures are obtained offline leaving review and understanding of theterms at the consumers' discretion. However, a large percentage ofcustomers abort due to transactional friction and behavioral inertiawhen the documentation is not explained to them.

In some platforms, the consumer may be required to leave an audio orvideo conversation to retrieve a document sent via an email to completethe transaction. Moreover, there are little safeguards in place toverify the authenticity of the consumer and signature since thetransaction is typically consummated offline and out of the presence ofa live witness. Embodiments of the computer-implemented onlineconferencing transactional platform system described herein solve thisproblem. Current computer-based secure signature systems and servicesonline do not provide for any collaborative review of transactionaldocumentation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration,elements illustrated in the Figures are not necessarily drawn to scale.For example, the dimensions of some elements may be exaggerated relativeto other elements. Embodiments incorporating teachings of the presentdisclosure are shown and described with respect to the drawings herein,in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic of an example of a computer system/serveraccording to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a schematic of an example online conferencing transactionalplatform connected via a network to a secure signature API, a moderatorterminal, and at least one signer end user terminal according to anembodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a diagram of a transactional document within a securesignature system to be filled out and signed by multiple partiesaccording to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram of a method for moving a transactional documentstored in a secure signature API to a computer-implemented onlineconferencing transactional platform according to an embodiment of thepresent disclosure.

FIGS. 5A, SB, and SC are diagrams illustrating an online conference insequence from left to right according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 6 is a flow diagram of a method for displaying a sharedtransactional document with multiple conference participants, allowingthe participants to co-browse, discuss, and fill-out the sharedtransactional document according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

FIGS. 7A and 7B are diagrams illustrating an e-notary session accordingto an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 8 is a flow diagram of a method for secure signing a transactionaldocument using a computer-implemented online conferencing transactionplatform system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 9 is a flow diagram of a method for remote signing a transactionaldocument using a computer-implemented online conferencing transactionalplatform system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

The use of the same reference symbols in different drawings may indicatesimilar or identical items.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The following description in combination with the Figures is provided toassist in understanding the teachings disclosed herein. The followingdiscussion will focus on specific implementations and embodiments of theteachings. This focus is provided to assist in describing the teachingsand should not be interpreted as a limitation on the scope orapplicability of the teachings. However, other teachings may be utilizedin this application, as well as in other applications.

An online conferencing system may provide a platform for real-timedocument co-browsing and transactional execution that includes entry ofinformation into the document. However, this generally only applies todocuments stored within the online conferencing system that hosts thevideo conference, and only one of the participants may edit thedocument. This is true because web application security standardscurrently allow a first web page to access data in a second web page,but only if both web pages have the same origin. An origin is acombination of a URI scheme, a hostname, and port number. This conceptis called the same-origin policy. This policy prevents a maliciousscript on one page from obtaining access to sensitive data on anotherweb page through that page's document object model. When applied tovideo-conferencing, this means the participants to the video-conferencemay only simultaneously browse or view items, programs, or documentshosted by the API or program that runs the video-conference. Items,programs, or documents that are hosted by APis with different URIschema, hostnames, or port numbers cannot be accessed or co-browsed bythe video-conference participants.

The computer implemented online conferencing transactional platformsystem herein described may overcome this same-origin policy, allowingthe system to access documents stored on a separate API with a differentorigin, and to display the document for co-browsing between multipleparticipants in a video conference. For example, a transactionaldocument in the present disclosure may be fetched from a securesignature online system API, or an e-notary system, and active fieldsseparately determined from the secure signature API. Further, thecomputer implemented online conferencing transactional platform systemherein described may also allow a moderator to control the browsing ofthe document, while simultaneously allowing at least one otherparticipant to enter information needed to fill out the document. Thisallows two or more participants to review a transactional document,discuss its contents, and fill-in any necessary fields within thedocument, significantly decreasing the likelihood of miscommunicationand misunderstanding between the parties, or the inadvertent input oferroneous information.

Now referring to FIG. 1, a schematic of an example of a computersystem/server 10 is shown according to one or more embodiments of thepresent disclosure. In an embodiment, the computer system/server 10 isshown in the form of a general-purpose computing device. The componentsof the computer system/server 10 may include, but are not limited to,one or more processors or processing units 16, a system memory 28, and abus 18 that couples various system components including the systemmemory 28 to the processor 16.

In some embodiments, the computer system/server 10 may be a cloudcomputing node connected to a cloud computing network (not shown). Thecomputer system/server 10 may be, for example, personal computersystems, tablet devices, mobile telephone devices, server computersystems, handheld or laptop devices, multiprocessor systems,microprocessor-based systems, set top boxes, programmable consumerelectronics, network PCs and distributed cloud computing environmentsthat include any of the above systems or devices, and the like. Thecomputer system/server 10 may be described in the general context ofcomputer system executable instructions, such as program modules, beingexecuted by a computer system (described for example, below). Thecomputer system/server 10 may be practiced in distributed cloudcomputing environments where tasks are performed by remote processingdevices that are linked through a communications network. In adistributed cloud computing environment, program modules may be locatedin both local and remote computer system storage media including memorystorage devices.

In an embodiment, the computer system/server 10 may typically include avariety of computer system readable media. Such media could be chosenfrom any available media that is accessible computer system/server 10,including non-transitory, volatile and non-volatile media, removable andnon-removable media. The system memory 28 could include one or morecomputer system readable media in the form of volatile memory, such as arandom access memory (RAM) 30 and/or a cache memory. By way of exampleonly, a storage system 34 can be provided within system memory 28 forreading from and writing to a storage memory such as a static driveimplementing NOR flash, NAND flash or the like or a non-removable,non-volatile magnetic media device typically called a “hard drive” (notshown). The system memory 28, may include at least onecomputer-implemented online conferencing transactional platform 40having a set (e.g. at least one) of program modules 42 that areconfigured to carry out the function of embodiments. The platform 40having a set (at least one) of program modules 42 may be stored in thesystem memory 28 by way of example, and not limitation, as well as anoperating system, one or more application programs, other programmodules 42, and program data. Each of the platform, operating system,one or more application programs, other program modules, and programdata or some combination thereof, may include an implementation of anetworking environment. The program modules 42 generally carry out thefunctions and/or methodologies of embodiments as described herein.

The computer system/server 10 may also communicate with one or moreexternal devices 14 such as a keyboard, a pointing device, a display 24,etc., and/or any devices (e.g., network card, modem, etc.) that enablethe computer system/server to communicate with one or more othercomputing devices. Such communication can occur via Input/Output (1/0)interfaces 22. Alternatively, the computer system/server 10 cancommunicate with one or more networks such as a local area network(LAN), a general wide area network (WAN), and/or a public network (e.g.,the internet) via a network adapter 22. As depicted, the network 20adapter may communicate with the other components of the computersystem/server 10 via the bus 18.

As will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, aspects of thedisclosed invention may be embodied as a system, method, or process, orcomputer program product. Accordingly, aspects of the disclosedinvention may take the form of an entirely hardware embodiment, anentirely software embodiment (including firmware, resident software,microcode, etc.) or an embodiment combining software and hardwareaspects that may all generally be referred to herein as a “circuit,”“module,” or “system.” Furthermore, aspects of the disclosed embodimentsmay take the form of a computer program product embodied in one or morecomputer readable media having computer readable program code embodiedthereon.

Any combination of one or more computer readable media (for example,main memory RAM 30, static memory 34, or other computer readable mediumsuch as cache 32) may be utilized. In the context of this disclosure, acomputer readable storage medium may be any tangible or non-transitorymedium that can contain, or store a program (for example, theinstructions 40) for use by or in connection with an instructionexecution system, apparatus, or device. A computer readable storagemedium may be, for example, but not limited to, an electronic, magnetic,optical, electromagnetic, infrared, semiconductor, organic, or quantumsystem, apparatus, or device, or any suitable combination of theforegoing. One or more of the above-described computer system/servers 10may serve as one or more components to perform various embodimentsherein including hosting the online conferencing transactional platform,as a signer end user terminal, a moderator terminal, or a server orservers supporting an online secure signature system and APL

Aspects of the disclosed embodiments are described below with referenceto flow diagrams and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus (systems)and computer program products. It will be understood that each block ofthe flow diagrams and/or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks inthe flow diagrams and/or block diagrams, can be implemented by theplatform. The computer program instructions may be provided to theprocessor 16 of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, orother programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, suchthat the instructions, which execute via the processor of the computeror other programmable data processing apparatus, create means forimplementing the functions/acts specified in the flow diagrams and/orblock diagram block or blocks. The instructions can be stored in acomputer readable medium. One such set of instructions includes anoperating system with operating system interface. Example operatingsystems can include those used with typical mobile computing devicessuch as Windows Phone mobile OS from Microsoft Corporation and AndroidOS from Google Inc., for example Key Lime Pie v. 5.x. Additional sets ofinstructions in the form of multiple software applications may be run bysystem 10. These software applications may enable multiple uses of thecomputer-implemented online conferencing transactional platform systemas set forth below in more detail.

FIG. 2 shows a schematic of an example online conferencing transactionalplatform connected via a network to a secure signature API, a moderatorterminal, and at least one signer end user terminal according to anembodiment of the present disclosure. In an embodiment, the onlineconferencing transactional platform 210 may contain an interactionmodule 220, a video-conferencing module 230, and a storage device 240.The secure signature system 250 may contain transactional documents tobe filled out and/or signed by one or more parties in collaboration withother parties. The online conferencing transactional platform 210 isconnected to the secure signature system with secure signatureapplication programming interface (API) 250, a moderator terminal 260,and at least one signer end user terminal 270 via a network connection,such as a local area network (LAN), a general wide area network (WAN),and/or a public network (e.g., the internet). The online conferencingtransaction platform 210 is connected to the signer end user terminalvia an internet network connection using html protocol. In anembodiment, this connection is a secure internet connection utilizingencryption, password access, or other security measures understood inthe art. The interaction module 220, video-conferencing module 230, andstorage device 240 function together to allow sharing, co-browsing,entry of information into, and signing of transactional documentsbetween the moderator terminal and at least one signer end user terminalin several embodiments as described further herein.

FIG. 3 shows an example of a transactional document within the securesignature system 250, to be filled out and signed by multiple parties.In an embodiment, the transactional document contains several fieldelement identifiers, which may include, for example, a documentidentifier 310, a title identifier 320, a document element 330, a pagenumber 340, or a signature field 350. A transactional document elementmay include, for example, a pull-down menu, a choice of check boxes,radio buttons, or a text field, some of which are shown in FIG. 3. Thetransactional document, images of the transaction document, andassociated field element identifiers are stored on the secure signatureAPI system 250 for editing and signing. However, the secure signaturesystem 250 and accessible via a secure signature system API therein thatonly allows one user at a time to view or edit transactional documentsstored on it. There exists a need to allow multiple parties to co-browsethese transactional documents, collaboratively fill in the fields, andsign the transactional documents. An example secure signature system 250may include an e-notary ore-signature online service such as DocuSign®or other similar secure signature systems.

FIG. 4 shows a flow diagram of a method for co-browsing a transactionaldocument stored in the secure signature system 250 via thecomputer-implemented online conferencing transactional platform 210 inan example aspect. For example, the method of FIG. 4 may allow multipleparties to co-browse the transactional documents, collaboratively fillin the fields, and sign the transactional document. In an embodiment, atblock 410, the interaction module 220 may fetch an image of pages of atransaction document and transactional document field identifiers310-350 associated with the transactional document from the securesignature API 250 through API calls. The document field identifiers310-350 may further include field network addresses of the fieldelements as stored within the secure signature system 250. These mayinclude associated identifiers such as document identification codes,page identifier codes, and identifier field codes for each transactionaldocument element. Each transactional document element may also haveassociated metadata within the document field identifier information.For example, metadata may include designations such as first name, lastname, descriptors (salary, costs, contributions, etc.) or otheralphanumeric metadata. For example, the text fields may include typemetadata identifying a name field, a social security number field, adate field or similar text fields.

At block 420, the video-conferencing module 230 may establish a networkconnection between the moderator terminal 260 and at least one signerend user terminal 270 (referred to here as “participants”). At block430, the interaction module 220 displays to all participants thetransactional document image as a webpage background. This allows theparticipants to co-browse the transactional document together, anddiscuss its contents to ensure all participants have the sameunderstanding of the transactional document's meaning.

At block 440, the interaction module 220 associates coordinates withinthe displayed webpage background of at least one field element with itsfield element identifier and with an interactive transactional documentelement. In an embodiment, an interactive transactional document elementis a data input mechanism displayed on top of the webpage background tothe participants as an empty field into which participants may enterdata. For example, if the transactional document includes a check boxdocument element 330, the interactive module 220 may display aninteractive transactional document element that appears as check boxessimilar to those in the transactional document image. This transactionaldocument element may be displayed on top of the transactional documentimage shown in the webpage background. As a further aspect of theembodiment, this transactional document element may be displayeddirectly on top of the non-interactive check boxes shown in thetransactional document image shown in the webpage background. In oneexample embodiment, the coordinates of the interactive transactionaldocument element and sizing are matched to align with the underlyingtransactional document element appearing on the webpage background imageof the corresponding page of the transactional document from the securesignature system. In an aspect, this may appear to a participant as ifthe underlying transactional document image background webpage wereinteractive itself In order to achieve this, the interaction module 220may associate the check box document element 330 with a field identifierfor that check box document element 330, and associate the coordinateson the webpage background of that field identifier as the coordinates onthe screen of the interactive transaction document element. In effect,this may allow the interactive transactional document element to lie ontop of the non-interactive image of the transactional document displayedas the webpage background, appearing as if the two are part of the sameshared transactional document. In other aspects, it is understood that arepresentation of the interactive transactional document element may beused. In one example embodiment, an intuitive representation of theinteractive transactional document element may appear to theparticipants on the webpage. In another example embodiment, arepresentation of the interactive transactional document element mayappear nearby to the location of the corresponding interactivetransactional document element on the webpage background document pageimage.

At block 450, the storage device accessible by the online conferencingtransactional platform stores the coordinates within the displayedwebpage background of at least one field element with its field elementidentifiers, metadata, and with the associated interactive transactionaldocument element.

Referring now to FIGS. SA and SB, an online conference 500 according toan embodiment of the invention is shown in sequence from left to right.In general, embodiments of the online conference 510 may allow forreal-time transactions to be performed live by participants of theconference. A shared transaction document 520 may be shared and controlof the shared transactional document 520 may be shared so thatparticipants may modify, edit, or execute a transactional document. Row530 represents the moderator terminal 260 side of the online conference510. A moderator 540 may be for example, a company representative. Themoderator 540 may interact with screen 550. For sake of illustration,screen 550 is only numbered once however it will be understood thatsubsequent screens 550 will be referred to as the screen 550 changes.Row 560 represents the signer end user terminal 270 side of the onlineconference. A signer end user 570 may be, for example, a consumer. Thesigner end user 570 may interact with screen 580. For sake ofillustration, screen 580 is only numbered once, however it will beunderstood that subsequent screens 580 will be referred to as the screen580 changes. The screens 550 and 580 may be enabled with audio/videoplus screen-sharing and co-browsing capabilities to provide videoconferencing. The screens 550 and 580 may display the same sharedtransactional document 520 but from the perspective of the moderator 540and the signer end user 580 respectively. The moderator 540 may guidethe signer end user 570 through a series of screens 580 providinginformation and/or document(s). As illustrated for example, themoderator 540 is advising the signer end user 570 on rolling over aretirement account and the signer end user 570 is reviewing therequirements and options on a shared transaction document 520 related toaccount transactions. The signer end user 570 may validate and questionthe shared transaction document 520 in real time. The signer end user570 is able, through the online conference 510, to invoke, for example,a financial transaction while being educated and guided by the moderator540. The moderator 540 may at any point, advise the signer end user 570on how to perform the transaction.

In a further aspect of the embodiment, the moderator 540 may control thescreen 580 through his own screen 550. Once the signer end user 570 isready to authorize a transactional event, the moderator 540 may invoke acommand to enable the signer end user 570 to accept full control of thescreen 580 and securely complete the transaction. A screen interactionmodule 590 may appear on the screen 580 allowing the signer end user 570to enter a real-time executed transactional action within the sharedtransactional document 520. For example, the signer end user 570 maycontrol the screen 580 and may provide signature information 590 withinthe shared transactional document 520 provided by the moderator 540.Referring now to FIG. SC, execution of the transactional event mayrelease control of the screen 580 back to the moderator 540.

FIG. 6 shows a flow diagram of a method for displaying a sharedtransactional document 520 with multiple conference participants,allowing the participants to co-browse, discuss, and fill-out the sharedtransactional document 520. In an embodiment, at block 610, thevideo-conferencing module may establish a co-browsing web conferencebetween the participants by connecting the computer-implemented onlineconferencing transaction platform 510, the moderator terminal 560, andthe signer end user terminal 270 via an internet network connection. Atblock 620, the interaction module may transmit the webpage background ofthe transactional document image and an interactive transactionaldocument element overlying the webpage background or otherwise displayedalong with the webpage background image of the transactional document(together referred to as the shared transactional document 520) tosigner end user terminal 270 and moderator terminal 260 for real-timebrowsing. At block 630, the video conferencing module may display atleast one video conference image on the webpage display on the signerend user terminal 270. For example, the video conferencing module maydisplay an image of moderator 540 on the signer end user terminalscreens 580.

Returning to FIG. 6, at block 640, the storage device 240 may receiveinformation corresponding to at least one interactive transactionaldocument element associated with a field identifier. As an illustration,consider the example discussed above, where a check box transactionaldocument element is displayed directly on top of the non-interactivecheck boxes in the transactional document image shown in the webpagebackground, giving the signer end user 570 the impression the check boxtransactional document element is part of the transactional documentimage. The signer end user 570 could then click on one of the checkboxes within the interactive transactional document element in order toindicate a choice. The storage device 240 would receive this informationcorresponding to the check box interactive transactional documentelement and associate that information with the field identifier for thecheck box transactional document element as it is presented in theoriginal transaction document received from the secure signature system250.

At blocks 650 and 660, the interaction module 220 may fetch from thestorage device 240 and transmit to the secure signature system and API250 a field identifier and received information corresponding to aninteractive transactional document element associated with that fieldidentifier. At block 670, the secure signature system 250 populatesfields of the transactional document elements and stores the receivedinformation corresponding to the interactive transactional documentelement associated with the field identifier at the field networkaddress for that field identifier. Continuing the example above, theinteraction module 220 may fetch from the storage device 240 andtransmit to the secure signature API 250 the information correspondingto the check box interactive transactional document element theassociated field identifier for the check box transactional documentelement as it is presented in the original transaction document receivedfrom the secure signature system and API 250. The secure signaturesystem 250 stores the received information corresponding to the checkbox interactive transactional document element and corresponding to thefield identifier for the check box transaction document element at thefield network address for that field identifier.

Referring now to FIGS. 7A and 7B, an e-notary session 710 is shownaccording to an embodiment of the invention. Thee-notary session 710 isanother embodiment of how the online conference 510 may be used.Thee-notary session 710 may provide remote signing of documents thatneed to be notarized via a secure signature system such as 250. Row 720represents the host terminal side of the session 710. The moderatorterminal 260 side may be operated, for example, by a notary. Row 730represents the signer end user terminal 270 side of the session 710. Theend user side may be a consumer who needs to sign documents in thepresence of a witness. In some embodiments, the online conference 510may use a camera 740 from the signer end user 570 side to capture andupload an identifying image 750 or other file to thee-notary session710. The identifying image 750 may be some item the notary needs towitness live and verify it is being presented by the end user 570. Forexample, the signer end user 570 may capture the image of his/herdriver's license or identification card (identifying image 750) and maypresent online to the moderator 540 via thee-notary session 710. Thehost may compare the identifying image 750 to a live image 760 of thesigner end user 570 plus identifiable electronic characteristics likedevice IP or login email for verification of the signer end user's 570identity and thus, transactional document's authenticity (FIG. 7B).

FIG. 8 represents a flow diagram of a method for secure signing atransactional document using the computer-implemented onlineconferencing transaction platform system 210. At block 810, theinteraction module 220 may receive a filled-out transactional documentin an inline frame (I-frame) from the secure signature system via API250. Frames allow a visual HTML browser window to be split intosegments, each of which can show a different document. An I-Frame is anHTML document embedded inside another HTML document on a website.I-Frames are often used to insert content from another source, thusallowing a browser to embed content from a remote origin within contentfrom the local origin without violating the same origin policy describedabove.

At block 820, the interaction module 220 may transmit the filled-outtransactional document I-frame for display to the signer end userterminal 270. In this way, the interaction module 220 allows the signerend user 570 to access the transactional document within the secure signsystem 250 itself via the I-frame. The signer end user 570 may thenenter signature information, such as an identifying image 740, a socialsecurity number, or a tax identification number into the signature field350 of the transactional document within the secure signature API 250.At block 830, the interaction module 220 may receive notification thetransactional document is signed from the secure signature API 250. In afurther aspect of the embodiment, at block 840, the interaction module220 may send an e-mail notification that the transactional document iscomplete and signed to all participants of the conference. It isunderstood that in another embodiment requiring signatures of multipleparties, an I-frame of the transactional document may be displayed tothe appropriate other party. For example, a moderator may also be asigner on behalf of a seller. An I-frame may be displayed to themoderator signer for execution of a secure signature process inaccordance with the secure signature system 250. Similarly, an I-framemay be used with each additional signer party to the transactionaldocument as appropriate. It is further understood that display of theI-frame for execution of the secure signature processes may be limitedto display to the individual signer executing that portion of the securesignature process. In other embodiments, some or all parties may utilizea remote secure signature process instead of an embedded signatureprocess such as via an I-frame. This aspect is described further withrespect to FIG. 9.

FIG. 9 shows a flow diagram of a method for remote signing atransactional document using the computer-implemented onlineconferencing transactional platform system 210. In a further aspect ofthe embodiment, at block 910, the interaction module 220 may receive anetwork address of a signature field 350 of the transactional documentwithin the secure signature API 250. At block 920, the interactionmodule 220 may e-mail a signer end user 270 or the moderator 240 (thismay include a seller or company representative) a link to the networkaddress field for the signature field 350 received from the securesignature API 250. The signer end user 270 or the moderator 240 mayprovide signature information, such as an identifying image 740, animage of an identity card, a social security number, or a taxidentification number into the signature field 350 of the transactionaldocument within the secure signature system 250 via the secure signatureAPI. At block 930, the interaction module 220 may receive images of thecomplete and signed transactional document and notification from securesignature API 250 that the transactional document is complete. At block940, the storage device 240 may store the image of the complete andsigned transactional document. In a further aspect of the embodiment, atblock 950, the interaction module 220 may send an e-mail notificationthat the transactional document is complete and signed to allparticipants of the conference.

The blocks in each of the flow diagrams discussed above need not beperformed in any given or specified order. It is contemplated thatadditional blocks, steps, or functions may be added, some blocks, stepsor functions may not be performed, blocks, steps, or functions may occurcontemporaneously, and blocks, steps or functions from one flow diagrammay be performed within another flow diagram.

Although only a few exemplary embodiments have been described in detailherein, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that manymodifications are possible in the exemplary embodiments withoutmaterially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of theembodiments of the present disclosure. Accordingly, all suchmodifications are intended to be included within the scope of theembodiments of the present disclosure as defined in the followingclaims. In the claims, means-plus-function clauses are intended to coverthe structures described herein as performing the recited function andnot only structural equivalents, but also equivalent structures.

The above-disclosed subject matter is to be considered illustrative, andnot restrictive, and the appended claims are intended to cover any andall such modifications, enhancements, and other embodiments that fallwithin the scope of the present invention. Thus, to the maximum extentallowed by law, the scope of the present invention is to be determinedby the broadest permissible interpretation of the following claims andtheir equivalents, and shall not be restricted or limited by theforegoing detailed description.

A computer program product for online conferencing of transactionalmatters, the computer program product comprising a non-transitorycomputer readable storage medium having computer readable program codeembodied therewith, the computer readable program code being configuredto: connect a host terminal to an end user terminal; provide a documentfor real-time display to the host terminal or the end user terminal; andprovide an interaction module for the end user to enter a real-timeexecuted transactional action with the document.

What is claimed is:
 1. A computer-implemented method comprising:retrieving, using a secure signature application programming interface(API), a secure electronic document and an interactive element, whereinthe interactive element is a data input mechanism corresponding to afield of the secure electronic document; transmitting, for display, to asigner terminal and a moderator terminal, a webpage comprising thesecure electronic document and the interactive element, wherein theinteractive element is editable at both the signer terminal and themoderator terminal; receiving, based on user input with respect to theinteractive element, information for the secure electronic document,wherein the receiving causes the secure electronic document to be filledout with the information; generating, using the secure signature API, ani-frame comprising the filled out secure electronic document with one ormore empty signature blocks; and transmitting, for display, the i-frameto the signer terminal.
 2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1,further comprising: responsive to receiving a command from the moderatorterminal, allocating control of the webpage to the signer terminalduring an online conference.
 3. The computer-implemented method of claim1, wherein transmitting the webpage occurs responsive to establishing anetwork connection between the secure signature API and the moderatorterminal, and wherein the webpage transmitted to the moderator terminalincludes a video-conference image of a signer at the signer terminal. 4.The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein transmitting thewebpage occurs responsive to establishing a network connection betweenthe secure signature API and the signer terminal, and wherein thewebpage transmitted to the signer terminal includes a video-conferenceimage of a moderator at the moderator terminal.
 5. Thecomputer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the interactive elementcomprises at least one of: a radio button, a check box, and a textfield.
 6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, furthercomprising: receiving, from the signer terminal, signature informationentered to at least one of the one or more empty signature blocks, thesignature information comprising one or more of an identifying image, animage of an identification document, and an identification number. 7.The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:responsive to receiving the signature information from the signerterminal, sending a notification to the moderator terminal that thesecure electronic document was signed by a signer that is operating thesigner terminal.
 8. A non-transitory computer-readable storage mediumcomprising instructions executable by one or more processors, theinstructions, when executed, causing the one or more processors toperform operations, the instructions comprising instructions to:retrieve, using a secure signature application programming interface(API), a secure electronic document and an interactive element, whereinthe interactive element is a data input mechanism corresponding to afield of the secure electronic document; transmit, for display, to asigner terminal and a moderator terminal, a webpage comprising thesecure electronic document and the interactive element, wherein theinteractive element is editable at both the signer terminal and themoderator terminal; receive, based on user input with respect to theinteractive element, information for the secure electronic document,wherein the receiving causes the secure electronic document to be filledout with the information; generate, using the secure signature API, ani-frame comprising the filled out secure electronic document with one ormore empty signature blocks; and transmit, for display, the i-frame tothe signer terminal.
 9. The non-transitory computer-readable storagemedium of claim 8, wherein the instructions further compriseinstructions to: responsive to receiving a command from the moderatorterminal, allocate control of the webpage to the signer terminal duringan online conference.
 10. The non-transitory computer-readable storagemedium of claim 8, wherein transmitting the webpage occurs responsive toestablishing a network connection between the secure signature API andthe moderator terminal, and wherein the webpage transmitted to themoderator terminal further includes a video-conference image of a signerat the signer terminal.
 11. The non-transitory computer-readable storagemedium of claim 8, wherein transmitting the webpage occurs responsive toestablishing a network connection between the secure signature API andthe signer terminal, and wherein the webpage transmitted to the signerterminal further includes a video-conference image of a moderator at themoderator terminal.
 12. The non-transitory computer-readable storagemedium of claim 8, wherein the interactive element comprises at leastone of: a radio button, a check box, and a text field.
 13. Thenon-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein theinstructions further comprise instructions to: receive, from the signerterminal, signature information entered to at least one of the one ormore empty signature blocks, the signature information comprising one ormore of an identifying image, an image of an identification document,and an identification number.
 14. The non-transitory computer-readablestorage medium of claim 8, wherein the instructions further compriseinstructions to: responsive to receiving the signature information fromthe signer terminal, send a notification to the moderator terminal thatthe secure electronic document was signed by a signer that is operatingthe signer terminal.
 15. A system comprising: a non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium comprising memory with instructionsencoded thereon; and one or more processors that, when executing theinstructions, perform operations comprising: retrieving, using a securesignature application programming interface (API), a secure electronicdocument and an interactive element, wherein the interactive element isa data input mechanism corresponding to a field of the secure electronicdocument; transmitting, for display, to a signer terminal and amoderator terminal, a webpage comprising the secure electronic documentand the interactive element, wherein the interactive element is editableat both the signer terminal and the moderator terminal; receiving, basedon user input with respect to the interactive element, information forthe secure electronic document, wherein the receiving causes the secureelectronic document to be filled out with the information; generating,using the secure signature API, an i-frame comprising the filled outsecure electronic document with one or more empty signature blocks; andtransmitting, for display, the i-frame to the signer terminal.
 16. Thesystem of claim 15, the operations further comprising: responsive toreceiving a command from the moderator terminal, allocating control ofthe webpage to the signer terminal during an online conference.
 17. Thesystem of claim 15, wherein transmitting the webpage occurs responsiveto establishing a network connection between the secure signature APIand the moderator terminal, and wherein the webpage transmitted to themoderator terminal further includes a video-conference image of a signerat the signer terminal.
 18. The system of claim 15, wherein transmittingthe webpage occurs responsive to establishing a network connectionbetween the secure signature API and the signer terminal, and whereinthe webpage transmitted to the signer terminal further includes avideo-conference image of a moderator at the moderator terminal.
 19. Thesystem of claim 15, wherein the interactive element comprises at leastone of: a radio button, a check box, or a text field.
 20. The system ofclaim 15, the operations further comprising: receiving, from the signerterminal, signature information entered to at least one of the one ormore empty signature blocks, the signature information comprising one ormore of an identifying image, an image of an identification document,and an identification number.